Coin-controlled device.



Patented July I, I902.

no; 703,62l.

u. .s. SWEENEY. COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE.

(Apph t nflledJ lyS won' 3 Sheets-Sheet I,

(N!) Model.)

[N VENTOR WITNESSES Fen ATTORNEYS Patented July 1902.

H. G. SWEENEY. COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE.

(Application filed July 8, 1901.)

3 Shuts-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

w a Re my NJ v n Y B lu A TTORNEYS WITNESSES TNE NqRR s vcrzas 00., mow-L mo. WASHINGTON. u, c.

no. 703,62l. Paten t 'd luly l, 1902,

H. a. SWEENEY.

COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE. (Applicatioz m filed July 8, 1901. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shae 3.

A'llllllll" I WITNESSES; INVENTOR.

I Jwwdmll E222, 476m {54w M Wm 211s ATTORNEY5-' THE Noums PETERS co momumo WASHINGTON,

inafter described, and

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC HENRY Gr. SWEENEY, OF. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,'ASSIGNOR TO FRANK G.

KAMMERER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COlN-CONTROLLEDDEVIQE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 1 mm No. 703,621, aatea July 1, 1902.

Application filed July 8, 1901.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HENRY G. SWEENEY, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ooin- Controlled Devices; and I do hereby declarekthatth'e'fol-i lowing is a full, clear, and exactdescription? thereof, reference being had tothe aocompa-i nying drawings, and to thele'ttersof. refer-;. ence marked thereon, which form, a part of this specification. This invention relates toa coin-actuated mechanism for vending-machines and-likevdevices.

The invention consists in the matters'here-y pointcd'out in the appended claims. j In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, taken on a plane below the level of thecoin-chute. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 '3. of Fig; 2'. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of device embodying the main features of my invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of still another modified form of the same.

As shown in said drawings,-A indicates a vertical plate which may constitute the front wall or part of the front wall of-za casing or housing containing a vending or*otherfcoincontrolled apparatus, and B a horizontahplate on which the principal operative partsiofthe device are mounted. Attached to the plate A, above the supporting-plate -B, is a chute'O- for the insertion of the coin, the same com-- inunicating at its forward and upperends with a slot a. The rear end of said chuteis directed downwardly and is located over or. just above a laterally-movable coin-holder D, which is provided with two coin-holders or coin-holding slots DD and is mounted on a detent-lever E, arra-ngedcto swing in a vertical plane. The coin-holder D-is shown as mounted ona pivot-stud'don thelever E. Said detent-leverE is mounted on a horizontal frame-arm B on the plate B. Said detent-leverE is shown as supported on a pivot e, the ends of which are secured in parallel logs or standards I) b, whichrise from the frame-arm B. The detent-lever E at theend thereof serial No. 67,444. (No model.)

opposite that to which the swinging coinholder D is pivoted is extended downwardly to form a locking arm or detent E, which passes through a slot 1), formed in the supporting-arm B.

Findicates a locking plate located beneath thestationary arm B and adapted to swing in a horizontalplane, said plate being mounted on a vertical pivot f, herein shown as passing at its upper end through the arm B and at itsliower-end into the plate 13. The locking-plate F is provided at its free edge, be-

neath" the endof the arm B which contains the. slot or notch 19, with two locking-notches -ff.' -TSaid plate F is adapted to be swung or oscillated about its pivot f, so as to bring either one of the notches f f beneath the notch 19 andinposition to be engaged by the detentearm B when the end of said lever E carrying said arm is depressed. Said locking-plate F is provided at either side of the frame-arm B with two uprights or standards G G. Saidnprights or standards rise at either side of the coin-holder D and are adapted for engagement with two lateral arms d d, which project from said coin-holder.

These parts are so arranged that when the locking-plate F is swung or oscillated on its pivotf the arms or standards G G, act- Qing.onjthe'coin holder G, will act to swing :or move said holder so as to bring one or the other of theeoin-slots D D beneath the opening of the coin-chute D. The detent-lever E 'is, .moreover, soweighted 'or balanced at its ends tha tdwhen there is no coin in either slot of the'holder D thei-endof said detent-lever EaOlIl which the. detent-arm E is attached" will remain depressed by gravity and in position for engagement with one of the notches f f in'the locking-plate F. When, however,

a coin is deposited in either of the slots D D, the coin-holder D and theien'dofthe detentlever to which the same is attached will descend by. gravity, ,so that the detent-arm E" on the oppositeendof said leverE will be "lifted above and free from the locking-plate F. To provide for accurate adjustment of the weight of the detent end of the lever E, said lever is shown as provided adjacent to the detent-arm E with a horizontal rod E on which is placed an adjustable weight E Said weight is herein shown as having screwthreaded engagement with the arm and as provided with a set-screw by which it may be rigidly affixed in any position to which it may be adjusted. The said detent-lever E is provided beneath the coin-holder D with an arm or extension E, which is depressed below the level of the coin-holder and at its outer end has attached to it a stop-plate E which rises to a point opposite the outer end of the coinholder, said stop-plate E being arranged in the same vertical plane with the coin-chute O. The coin-receiving slots D D are open at their outer ends, and each slot is so constructed that when it is beneath the coinchute and its outer end is opposite the stopplate E a coin dropped into the slot will be held or confined between the inner end of the same and the said stop-plate. It follows from this construction that if a coin be inserted through the chute O and drops into the coinholder it will lodge or be confined therein by the stop-plate, the distance from the inner end of each slot D D to the inner end of the stop-plate being somewhat less than the diameter of the coin intended to be used in the machine. If, however, when a coin is so held in one of the slots of the holder the latter be oscillated or swung on its pivot so as to carry the slot which is then beneath the chute away from the chute and to bring the other slot into place beneath the chute as soon as the slot containing the coin moves away from the stopplate, the coin will no longer be held or supported in the holder by said stop-plate and will fall or be dislodged from said coin-holder. Manifestly, moreover, when a coin is held in one of the slots of the coin-holder the end of the detent-lever carrying the coin will be depressed by the weight of the coin, and its opposite end, carrying the detent-arm E, will be lifted so as to release the detent-arm from the notch of the locking-plate F, so that said plate will then be free to swing on its pivotal axis, so as to bring its other notch in position beneath the said detent-arm E. By this swinging movement of the locking-plate the coin-holder D will be moved or swung on its axis, so as to carry the coin-slot containing the coin away from the stop-plate, thereby releasing the coin and permitting the detentarm to descend, so that as soon as the locking-plate is moved so far as to bring the other notch under the said detent-arm the latter will descend into engagement with such notch, thereby locking the plate from further movement until another coin is introduced into the coin-chute and lodges in the coinslot which is then beneath the chute, when the locking-plate will again be released, as before. The locking-plate F constitutes the part or member of the mechanism which gives motion to or blocks the movement of the operative parts which are moved or actuated in the operation of vending or the like, and said plate F itself receives motion from push-buttons or similar movable parts adapted to be manually operated. Provision is made for moving or actuating the said lockingplate in the device shown in the drawings as follows:

H H are two upright levers connected at their upper ends with opposite-extending laterally-directed actuating-arms F F on the locking-plate and pivoted at their lower ends to suitable stationary supports, herein shown as having the form of horizontal arms 71 71, attached to the front plate A. Attached to said levers H are rods I, having at their ends push-buttons or finger-pieces I, which extend throughholes or apertures in the front plate A. The said push-buttons I I through their connection with the plate F will be moved inwardly or outwardly in the plate A as the said plate F is oscillated. It follows that when said plate is at one limit of its oscillatory movement one of the push-buttons will be at its outward and the other at its inward position, and it follows that if the finger be pressed on the push-button which is at the outward limit of its movement the plate will be moved or shifted through the action of the rod I and the lever H, so as to swing rearwardly or inwardly the actuatingarm of the plate F with which the actuated push-button is connected, and at the same time to swing forwardly the opposite side of the plate, and thus carry the other or oppo site button to its outward position. It follows that one or the other of the two pushbuttons will always be at the outward limit of its movement and that by pushing inwardly the button which is at any time outward the locking-plate F will be swung or moved on its pivot.

By reason of the engagement of the detentarm E with one of the notchesff in the locking-plate it is manifest that so long as no coin is in the holder D the detent-arm E will be interlocked with the said plate and the same cannot be moved by pushing on either of the push-buttons. When, however, a coin is inserted in the coin-chute and drops into the slot of the coin-holder which is at that time beneath the coin-chute the Weight of the coin will depress the outer end of the detent-lever E, the detent-arm E will be raised, the locking-plate F released, and by pressure on the push-button which is at the time extended the same will be forced inward and the locking-plate, with its actuating-arms,

swung or turned on its pivot. In the swinging of the plate, however, one of the uprights G G, acting on the lateral arms of the coinholder D, will swing said holder so as to carry the slot which then contains the coin from beneath the chute and away from the stopplate E so that the coin will be released, whereupon the locking-arm of the detent-lever will be depressed by the action of gravity and the said arm will rest upon the stop of the plate F until the same has been moved far enough to bring one of the notches f beneath said arm, when the latter will drop into IIO said notch and again lockthe plate, so that it cannot be again moveduntil a coin has been again introduced into the coin-chute, after which the same operation may be repeated.

The locking-plate F may be connected with any suitable vending or other device which it is desired to actuate or to hold from actuation or movement except when a coin is inserted into the machine. As an instance of the manner in which the device described may be employed, the machine illustratedcontains a discharge or delivery apparatus for chewing-gum or candy tablets. The holding device for the articles to be vended embraces two vertical receptacles J J, these being located over the horizontal plate B, near the front plate A. Pusher-plates 'K-K slide on the plates B and are attached at their rear ends to the actuating-arms F Fof the locking-plate F by the studs 107e, which slide in slots f f in the arms F F and which also serve toconnect the levers H H with said arms. Said pusher-plates K are shown as provided with parallel slots k, engaging guide-studs k on the plate B. The forward or outer ends of said pusher-plates K move transversely from front to rear across the bottoms of the receptaclesJ, which latter are provided with exit-slots at their forward or outer walls, through which tablets contained therein may be pushed by the action ofthe pusher-plates K K. The exit or delivery passages of the receptacles J are indicated at'J in the drawings. The two pusher-plates K K are so arranged or connected with the actuating-arms F as to stand one in a retracted and one in an advanced position when the locking-plate F is locked at one limit of its movement by the detent-arm E, and when said locking-plate F is moved or actuated by pressure upon one of the push-buttons after the insertion of a coin into the device'to release said plate the retracted pusher-plate K will be advanced and the one which is advanced will be retracted, so that each time the plate F is actuated a tablet will be ejected H of the locking-plate F by means of a lever M and a link 011, said lever being pivoted to a depending arm M on the top plate B and being bent or having the form of a bell-crank lever, with its rear end or arm extending upwardly to the point where the link m is connected therewith, so that when the lever H is in the outward limit of its movement and the push-button connected therewith is protruded from the front plate A said plate L will be depressed, and when said lever H is pushed baokwardly the plate L will be elevated. Manifestly by reason of the connection described the plate L will be depressed as the pusher-plate K advances, so as to open the-eXit-slot of the receptacle and permit the exit of the tablet which is being pushed therefrom by the pusher-plate. Similarly as the other of the pusher-plates is'retracted the plate L at that side of the device will be elevated to close the exit-passage. buttons in the device described are connected with the actuating-arms F F on thelocking plate and the said arms are also connected with the pusher-plates of the vending device shown, it follows that the said arms F constitute a means of moving both the lockingplate and the pusher-plates and that said locking-plate also holds from movement the In the push-buttons and the pusher-plates; construction illustrated, therefore, the pushbuttons give movement to the operative parts of the vending device, while the lockingplate controls such movement, or, in other words, the coin-controlled device described serves to give movement to and controls the operation of the vending device. Manifestly, however, the actuating-arms F F or other parts connected and moving with the lockingplate or the plate itself may be employed to give movement to any otherkind of a vending or similar device, or it may operate a looking device which is adapted to hold from movement the operative parts of a vending or similar device which is itself operated by a separate single handle, lever, or other manually-operable part, it'being obvious that the actuation'of one or the other'of the pushbuttons in such case would merely serve to release such locking device to permit the movement of such manually-operable part.

In Fig. 4: I have shown a device embracing the same general features of construction that are contained in that hereinbefore described, but differing therefrom in details of construction and arrangement.- In this instance the locking-plate F, its arms F, and the detent-lever E are arranged in the same manner as hereinbefore described. The coinholder as an element separate from the lever E is in this instance omitted, and said lever is provided with an integral plate D which constitutes the coin-holder and is provided with coin-receiving slots or recesses D D The coin-chute (indicated in this instance by O) is hinged or pivoted'so as to swing laterally at its lower end, whereby said lower end may be brought over either one of the slots D D For shifting or actuating the movable end of the coin-chute the same is shown as'provided with a rigid arm C and the locking-plate F is provided with two'standards G G, arranged for contact with the arm 0 when the locking-plate is moved or oscillated, so as to shift the coin-chute from one coin-slot to the other, provision being made for lost motion between the upper ends of the standards G G and the arm 0 so that in the As the pushmovement of the locking-plate said chute will be carried over one or the other of the two coin-slots. A pivotal connection between the upper end of the coin-chute and the front wall A of the casing is shown as provided by two arms 0 c on the upper part of the chute, which are connected by vertical pivots c c with lugs a a on the front wall. The stopplate E for holding the coin in the coin-holding slots D D in this instance is attached to and moves with the chute O, the same, as shown, being connected with the coin-chute by a rigid arm E Manifestly the operation of the device shown in Fig. 4 is the same as that illustrated in the preceding figures, it being obvious that by making the coin-holder rigid with the detent-lever E and making the coin-chute movable, so that it may be shifted to bring it over either one of the slots D D and at the same time providing for movement of the stopplate from one slot to the other the same result is produced as is obtained when the coinchute is stationary and the coin-holder is movable on the detent-lever.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 a chute C is employed which is stationary, as in the construction first described, and a stop-plate E is employed which is rigidly supported on the base-plate B by means of a standard e. The detent-lever E in this instance has a rigidly-attached coin -holder D having coinslots D D as in the construction shown in Fig. 4. In this instance, however, the locking-plate (indicated by F is stationary and may be part of the base-plate B, as is the case in the construction shown in the drawings. In this instance, moreover, the detent-lever E is adapted to swing or oscillate horizontally, so that its detent-arm E may be brought in position for engagement with either one of the notches ff of the locking-plate F while the slots D D of the coin-holder are placed at the same angle or distance apart as the said locking-notches, so that when the detent-lever is in position to engage either one of the notches of the locking-plate one of the coin-holding slots will be beneath the chute C. The detentlever is in this instance mounted on lugs b mounted on an oscillating arm 13 which corresponds with the supporting-arm B of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, but which is adapted to swing or oscillate on a pivot-stud f Actuating-arms F F corresponding with the actuating-arms F F, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, are in this instance attached to or form part of the oscillating plate B instead of being attached to and movable with the locking-plate, as in the devices shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Manifestly the device shown in said Fig. 5 is substantially the same in its general principles of construction as those hereinbefore described, it being obvious that the actuatingarms F F will be normally locked or held from movement through the engagement of the detent-lever E with the notches of the stationary locking-plate, that when the detentarm is engaged with either of the notches of the locking-plate one of the coin receiving slots of the coin-holder will be beneath the coin-chute, and that when a coin is inserted through said chute and enters the coin -receiving slot beneath it the weight of such coin will move the detent-lever so as to release it from the locking-plate, and the actuatingarms may then be swung or moved by the push-buttons or manually-operable devices connected therewith so as to first carry the coin away from the stop-plate and permit the escape of the coin and to thenbring the detentlever into position to engage the other locking-notch of the locking-plate.

It will be observed that the several forms of coin-controlled mechanism illustrated comprise as common features two push-buttons or other manually-operable actuating members, a tilting detent lever adapted to be moved by the weight of a coin and which is adapted for engagement with alocking-plate or other suitable holding means to hold both actuating members from movement, a coinholder having two coin-receiving slots, and a coin-chute, together with means operated by or through the movement of either of the manually-operable members, whereby the position of the coin-holder may be shifted with respect to the chute or the position of the chute may be shifted with respect to the coinholder so as to bring either slot of the coinholder beneath the chute.

Manifestly a coin controlled mechanism embracing the features of construction above described may be embodied in various forms, so far as the mechanical features thereof are concerned, and I do not,therefore,desire to be limited to the details or specific features of construction illustrated.

I claim as my inventionl. A coin-controlled mechanism comprising two man ually-operable actuating members, a tilting detent-lever adapted to be moved from the weight of a coin,means operated by the detent-lever for holding both actuating members from movement, a coin-holder having two coin-receiving slots and a coin-chute, said coin-holder and coin-chute being movable one with respect to the other and means actuated by the movement of either-of said manuallyoperable members for shifting the position of the coin holder and chute with respect to each other, so as to bring either slot of the coinholder beneath the chute.

2. A coin-controlled mechanism comprising two manually-operable actuating members, a tilting detent-lever adapted to be moved by the weight of acoin, means operated by the detent-lever for holding the actuating members from movement, a coin-holder having two coin-receiving slots and a coin-chute, said coin-holder and coin-chute being movable one with respect to the other, means actuated by the movement of either oneof said manuallyoperable members for shifting the position of the coin holder and chute so as to bring either slot of the coin-holder beneath the chute, and

a stop-plate for confining-a coin in the slot of the coin-holder which is beneath the chute.

3. A coin-controlledmechanism comprising two manually-operable members, a locking plate, a tilting detent-lever adapted to engage said locking-plate, a coin-chute and a coinholder which is connected with and gives movement to the detent-lever and is provided with two coin-slots, said coin-chute and coinholder being movable one with respect to the other, so that either of the slots of the coin-receptacle may be brought into position beneath the chute.

4. Acoin-controlled mechanism comprising two manually-operable actuating members, a locking-plate, a tilting detent-lever adapted to engage said locking-plate to hold said man gage said locking-plate for holding the manuallyoperable parts from movement, and

adapted to be actuated by the weight of the coin, a coin-chute and acoin-holder which is connected with and gives movement to the detent-lever and is provided with two coinreceiving slots, said chute and stop -plate being movable one with respect to the other, so that either slot of the coin-holder may be broughtibeneath the chute, and a stop-plate adapted to hold a coin in that one of the'two,

coin-receiving slots which is at any time beneath the chute, and means operated by the' said manually-operable parts constructed to eitect such relative movement of the coin holder and chute.

6. A coin-controlled mechanism comprising two manually-operable actuating members, a locking-plate connected and movable with both members, a tilting detent-lever adapted to be moved by the weight of a coin and which is constructed to engage the lockingplate to hold the actuating members from movement, a coin-holder which is connected with and gives movement to the detent-lever and is provided with two coin-receiving slots and a coin-chute, said coin-holder and coin-chute being movable one with respect to the other and means actuated through the movement of either one of said manually-operable members for shifting the position of the coin holder and chute with respect to each other.

7. A coin=controlled mechanism comprising two manually-operable actuating members, a.

locking -plate connected and moving with both members, a tilting detent-lever adapted to be moved by the weight of the coin and which is constructed to hold the actuating members from movement, a coinholder mounted on said tilting lever and movable laterally with respect thereto, said coin-holder having two coin-receiving'slots, a coin-chute, and means operated through the movement of said locking-plate for shifting the position of the coin-holder with respect tothe chute.

8. A coin-controlled mechanism,comprising two manually-operable actuating members, a lockingplate connected and moving with both members, a tilting detent-lever adapted to be moved by the weight of the coin and which is constructed to hold the actuating members from movement, a coin holder mounted on said tilting lever and movable laterally with respect thereto, said coin-holder having two coin-receiving slots, a coin-chute and means operated through the movement of said locking-plate for shifting the position of the coin-holder with respect to the chute and a stop-plate carried by said detent-lever.

9. A coin-controlled mechanism comprising two manually-operable actuating members, a locking-plate connected with both of said members, a tilting detent-lever adapted to be moved by the weight of a coin and which is constructed to hold the actuatingmembers from movement, a coin-holder pivoted on the detent-lever and provided with two coin-receiving slots, a coin-chute, an actuating-arm on said locking-plate adapted to engage the coin-holder for shifting it laterally upon the detent-lever.

10. A coin-controlled mechanism comprisin g an oscillatory plate provided with two actuating-arms, two push-buttons connected with the actuating-arms of said locking-plate, a tilting detent-lever adapted to be moved by the weight of a coin and constructed to hold the lockingmember from movement, a coinprising two manually-operable actuating members, a tilting detent-lever adapted to be .moved by the weight of the coin and which is constructed to hold both actuating members from movement, a coin-holder which is connected with and gives movement to the detent-lever and is provided with two coinreceiving slots and a coin-chute, said coinholder and coin-chute being movable one with respect to the other, means actuated by the movement of either of said manually-operable'actu ated members for shifting the position of the coin holder and chute with respect to each other to bring either slot of the coinmy invention I affix my signature, in presholder beneath the chute, two receptacles to ence of two Witnesses, this 6th day of June, contain the articles to be vended, and two A. D. 1901. ejecting-slides workingin said receptacles, 5 said slides being connected and moving with Vitnesses:

said manually-operable members. O. CLARENCE POOLE, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as WILLIAM L. HALL.

HENRY G. SWEENEY. 

